Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2026
03:38
Aptamer-Based Target Detection Facilitated by a 3-Stage G-Quadruplex Isothermal Exponential Amplification Reaction
Published on: October 6, 2022
Rational installation of an allosteric effector on a designed ribozyme
Shohei Kuramitsu1, Yoshiya Ikawa, Tan Inoue
1Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, 606-8502, Kyoto, Japan.
Nucleic Acids Symposium Series (2004)
|December 8, 2006
Summary
Researchers created a controllable ribozyme using rational molecular design. This new ribozyme can be regulated by organic molecules, enabling new applications in RNA-based technologies.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Synthetic Biology
Background:
- Ribozymes are catalytic RNA molecules with diverse biological functions.
- Controlling ribozyme activity is crucial for developing novel RNA-based therapeutics and biosensors.
- Existing ribozymes often lack precise external control mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and construct a novel ribozyme with allosteric control.
- To integrate an organic molecule-responsive allosteric module into an artificial ribozyme.
- To demonstrate the successful conversion of a designed ribozyme into an allosterically controllable form.
Main Methods:
- Rational molecular design principles were applied to engineer the ribozyme.
- An allosteric modular unit responsive to organic molecules was incorporated.
- The assembly of functional RNA modular units guided the design process.
Main Results:
- An allosterically controllable ribozyme was successfully designed and constructed.
- The integration of the allosteric module enabled external regulation of ribozyme activity.
- The designed ribozyme demonstrated the intended allosteric control.
Conclusions:
- Rational molecular design enables the creation of functional, controllable ribozymes.
- Allosteric control of ribozymes can be achieved by integrating modular units responsive to small molecules.
- This work provides a foundation for developing sophisticated RNA-based molecular devices.
Related Concept Videos
01:08Allosteric Regulation
Allosteric regulation of enzymes occurs when the binding of an effector molecule to a site that is different from the active site causes a change in the enzymatic activity. This alternate site is called an allosteric site, and an enzyme can contain more than one of these sites. Allosteric regulation can either be positive or negative, resulting in an increase or decrease in enzyme activity. Most enzymes that display allosteric regulation are metabolic enzymes involved in the degradation or...
01:08Allosteric Regulation
Allosteric regulation of enzymes occurs when the binding of an effector molecule to a site that is different from the active site causes a change in the enzymatic activity. This alternate site is called an allosteric site, and an enzyme can contain more than one of these sites. Allosteric regulation can either be positive or negative, resulting in an increase or decrease in enzyme activity. Most enzymes that display allosteric regulation are metabolic enzymes involved in the degradation or...
02:47Ribozymes
The term ribozyme is used for RNA that can act as an enzyme. Ribozymes are mainly found in selected viruses, bacteria, plant organelles, and lower eukaryotes. Ribozymes were first discovered in 1982 when Tom Cech’s laboratory observed Group I introns acting as enzymes. This was shortly followed by the discovery of another ribozyme, Ribonulcease P, by Sid Altman’s laboratory. Both Cech and Altman received the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1989 for their work on ribozymes.
Ribozymes can be...
Ribozymes can be...
02:47Ribozymes
The term ribozyme is used for RNA that can act as an enzyme. Ribozymes are mainly found in selected viruses, bacteria, plant organelles, and lower eukaryotes. Ribozymes were first discovered in 1982 when Tom Cech’s laboratory observed Group I introns acting as enzymes. This was shortly followed by the discovery of another ribozyme, Ribonulcease P, by Sid Altman’s laboratory. Both Cech and Altman received the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1989 for their work on ribozymes.
Ribozymes can be...
Ribozymes can be...
01:56Riboswitches
Riboswitches are non-coding mRNA domains that regulate the transcription and translation of downstream genes without the help of proteins. Riboswitches bind directly to a metabolite and can form unique stem-loop or hairpin structures in response to the amount of the metabolite present. They have two distinct regions – a metabolite-binding aptamer and an expression platform.
The aptamer has high specificity for a particular metabolite which allows riboswitches to specifically regulate...
The aptamer has high specificity for a particular metabolite which allows riboswitches to specifically regulate...
01:19Allosteric Proteins-ATCase
Binding sites linkages can regulate a protein's function. For example, enzyme activity is often regulated through a feedback mechanism where the end product of the biochemical process serves as an inhibitor.
Aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATCase) is a cytosolic enzyme that catalyzes the condensation of L-aspartate and carbamoyl phosphate to N-carbamoyl-L-aspartate. This reaction is the first step in pyrimidine biosynthesis. UTP and CTP, the end products of the pyrimidine synthesis pathway,...
Aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATCase) is a cytosolic enzyme that catalyzes the condensation of L-aspartate and carbamoyl phosphate to N-carbamoyl-L-aspartate. This reaction is the first step in pyrimidine biosynthesis. UTP and CTP, the end products of the pyrimidine synthesis pathway,...